(19)
(11) EP 1 349 347 A3

(12) EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION

(88) Date of publication A3:
09.06.2004 Bulletin 2004/24

(43) Date of publication A2:
01.10.2003 Bulletin 2003/40

(21) Application number: 03300003.5

(22) Date of filing: 27.03.2003
(51) International Patent Classification (IPC)7: H04L 29/06, H04Q 3/00, H04L 12/66, H04M 7/00
(84) Designated Contracting States:
AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR GB GR HU IE IT LI LU MC NL PT RO SE SI SK TR
Designated Extension States:
AL LT LV MK

(30) Priority: 27.03.2002 US 368094 P

(71) Applicant: ALCATEL
75008 Paris (FR)

(72) Inventors:
  • Gettala, Balachandar S.
    Richardson, TX 75081 (US)
  • Jhu, Michael
    Ottawa, Ontario K2B 5K8 (CA)
  • Roberts, Michael Jude
    Kanata, Ontario K2K 3B3 (CA)
  • Vandette, Henri
    Kanata, Ontario K2K 2R7 (CA)
  • Karlsen, Glenn Arne
    Port Coquitlam, British Columbia V3C 5B8 (CA)
  • Hurd, Jim
    Ottawa, Ontario K1S 0T2 (CA)
  • Dubois, Gerry
    Richardson, TX 75080 (US)
  • Stanton, James A., Jr.
    Allen, TX 75002 (US)
  • Alladi, Suryaram
    Plano, TX 75023 (US)

(74) Representative: Feray, Valérie et al
Feray Lenne Conseil 44/52, Rue de la Justice
75020 Paris
75020 Paris (FR)

   


(54) Method and apparatus for redundant signaling links


(57) According to at least one embodiment of the invention, a protocol for managing redundant signaling links to form a reliable signaling connection is provided. The protocol has an initialization phase, in which the availability of signaling links is determined and an available signaling link is selected and activated, followed by an operational phase in which the activated link is used for sending signaling messages for a higher-level protocol. During the operational phase both links are monitored for availability using a query and reply technique. Should either link fail, a status message is sent to the remaining available link along with an activity switchover being performed, as required, depending on whether the failed link was the active link. The higher-level protocol process running on the media gateway performs management of the links, and the media gateway controller operates as a slave, whereby it need not initiate nor control any of the activities for management of the signaling links, thereby reducing the processing burden placed upon it. However, optionally, a media gateway controller may request a link switchover, which may be used to support link maintenance activities or link congestion avoidance measures.






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